’Round about the black Tower there were, methoughts, many thousands of huge mis-shapen ugly Monsters; these had great Nets, which they were perpetually plying and casting towards the crooked Paths, and they would now and then catch up those that were nearest to them:  these they took up streight, and whirled over the Walls into the flaming Tower, and they were no more seen nor heard of.

’They would sometimes cast their Nets towards the right Paths to catch the Stragglers, whose Eyes for want of frequent drinking at the Brook that ran by them grew dim, whereby they lost their way; these would sometimes very narrowly miss being catched away, but I could not hear whether any of these had ever been so unfortunate, that had been before very hearty in the strait Paths.

’I considered all these strange Sights with great Attention, till at last I was interrupted by a Cluster of the Travellers in the crooked Paths, who came up to me, bid me go along with them, and presently fell to singing and dancing; they took me by the Hand, and so carried me away along with them.  After I had follow’d them a considerable while, I perceiv’d I had lost the black Tower of Light, at which I greatly wonder’d; but as I looked and gazed round about me, and saw nothing, I begun to fancy my first Vision had been but a Dream, and there was no such thing in reality:  but then I consider’d, that if I could fancy to see what was not, I might as well have an Illusion wrought on me at present, and not see what was really before me.  I was very much confirmed in this Thought, by the Effect I then just observ’d the Water of Worldly-Wisdom had upon me; for as I had drunk a little of it again, I felt a very sensible Effect in my Head; methought it distracted and disorder’d all there:  this made me stop of a sudden, suspecting some Charm or Inchantment.  As I was casting about within my self what I should do, and whom to apply to in this Case; I spy’d at some distance off me a Man beckning, and making signs to me to come over to him.  I cry’d to him, I did not know the Way.  He then called to me audibly, to step at least out of the Path I was in; for if I staid there any longer I was in danger to be catched in a great Net that was just hanging over me, and ready to catch me up; that he wonder’d I was so blind, or so distracted, as not to see so imminent and visible a Danger; assuring me, that as soon as I was out of that Way, he would come to me to lead me into a more secure Path.  This I did, and he brought me his Palm full of the Water of Heavenly-Wisdom, which was of very great use to me, for my Eyes were streight cleared, and I saw the great black Tower just before me; but the great Net which I spy’d so near me, cast me in such a Terror, that I ran back as far as I could in one Breath, without looking behind me: